Secretaey table



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet '1.

A. ISKE.

SECRETARY TABLE.

No. 360,020. Patented Mar. 29, 1887'.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. ISKE.

SECRETARY TABLE.

No. 360,020. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

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STATES ATENT Erica.

AXTHONY ISKE, OF LANCASTER, PEXNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ISRAEL L. LANDIS, OF SAME PLACE.

SECRETAR SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,020, dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed November 23, 1886. Serial No. 1191118. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY IsKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Secretary-Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved article of furniture which may be used either as a secretary, a table, or a drawing-board of variable inclination.

The said invention consists, partly, in the combination of a table having a movable leaf which serves as its cover, with a case vertically movable in the rear part of said table when said leaf is drawn forward, the raising of this case above the top of the table converting the article into a secretary.

The said invention further consists in the combination, with said parts, of a shaft, a spring operating to turn said shaft, and cords connecting said shaft to said vertically-movable case for the purpose of raising the latter.

The said invention further consists in the combination of said spring and shaft and the parts on which they operate with adjusting devices for regulating the tension of said spring.

The said invention also consists in a table having a leaf in its cover which is movable forward and backward, and also pivoted by dowel-pins to allow it to be tilted to the desired angle for use as a drawing-board.

The said invention also consists in the combination of a table, a movable leaf in the top thereof, a drawer, a lock in said drawer, and a catch in said table, which is forced into engagement with said leaf by the operation of locking said drawer, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

There are also certain details of my invention, in addition to the above, which will be hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an article of fur- 50 niture embodying my invention arranged for use as a secretary. Fig. 2 represents a vertical central section of the same from front to rear, the article being arranged for use as an ordinary table. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the same arranged for use as a draw- 5 ing-board, the tilting of the movable leaf be ing indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged detail view of the elevatingspring and shaft of the secretary and the adjusting device for said spring. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail view of the devices for locking the table-leaf. Fig. 6 represents in detail the hook and perforations for hold- .ing it tilted.

A designates the body of the table, which is supported on legs A, and provided at the rear with a downwardlyextending fixed case, A, which is closed in front and open behind.

B designates a drawer, which is pivoted near one corner in the front a of said table, and provided with a lock, 0, that operates upward,as usual. A springcatch, D, is arranged above said bolt in said front a, to be forced upward by said bolt against a movable leaf, E, which forms the greater part of the top of the table. \Vhen the bolt is shotthe leaf islocked against drawing forward, and, conversely, the unlocking of the drawer unlocks the leaf also. This leaf E is provided at its sides with grooves 6, running from front to rear. These grooves fit on dowel-pins F, which extend inwardly from the fixed end pieces, A, of the tabletop near the front thereof. They also receive fixed lugsf, which extend inward likewise from said end piecesnearthemiddle thereof. Astop-pin, f, is arranged in each of these grooves at such a point as to come in contact with the dowelpin F on that side when the leaf E has been drawn forward far enough for its center of gravity to be in front of said dowel-pins. The said leaf E may then be tilted into the inclination most convenient for use as a drawingboard, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

G designates avertically-movablesecretarycase, which is below the top of the table and within the fixed case A while the article is used as a table or drawing-board only. This vertically-movable case is provided with pigeon-holes g and drawers 9'. It is guided by cleats a, attached to the body of the table, and

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is provided with a transverse bar, G, from which cords I). extend upward to a rotary shaft, H,which is journaled in the table. A spring, I, wound around said shaft, is attached at one end to a plate, i, fixed to said table,and at the other end to a sleeve, J, fixed on said shaft. This sleeve is provided with a series of screwtapped holes, j j, at varying distances, for receiving the screw J, whereby the attaching of said spring is effected. By moving said screw from one of said holes to another I adjust the tension of said spring to conform to the weight of the movable secretary-case and its contents. The spring is preferably made strong enough to raise said secretary-case automatically when the leaf E is withdrawn.

One end of shaft H is extended through the side of the table and provided with a knob, K,whereby it may be turned to lower the secretary-case, or assist in raising it. This knob may also be used to hold said movable secretary-case in any position.

The rear end of leaf E is provided with a pivoted hook, L, which engages, as shown in Fig. 6, with any one of a series of holes, Z, arranged vertically in one of the partitions of the secretary-case, the effect being to hold said leaf at any inclination desired for convenient use as a drawing-board.

An anti-friction roller, M, journaled to the table at its rear upper edge, is in contact with the back of the secretary-case, and serves to guide it in its vertical motion.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a desk with a sliding top in combination with a secretary-case which is supported above said top by india-rubber bands when said top of the table is caused to slide forward, said bands being attached at one end to the lower part of said case, then passed over a shaft, and finally attached to a relatively-fixed part of the table, in order that they may exert a lifting action on said case. I am also aware that the operative parts of a sewing-machine have been provided with a shaft and spring, an oscillating frame, projecting arms and links, and

with doors hinged to the sides of the cabinet, said doors supporting said operative parts when raised above the table. either of these constructions or combinations; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a table and tabledrawer with a sliding leaf and a catch, the latter being arranged above the lock of said drawer and forced into contact with the sliding leaf by shooting the bolt, in order that both the drawer and leaf may be locked or unlocked by a single motion, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a table-body with a movable leaf having grooves which receive a pair of dowel-pins, and a pair of fixed lugs attachedto said table-body, the dowel-pins and lugs normally holding said leaf horizontal as a table-top, but also allowing said leaf to be drawn forward, so as to clear said lugs and be tilted on said dowel-pins for use as a drawingboard, substantially as set forth.

3. A table provided with a sliding leaf which normally serves as its top, in combination with a vertically-movable secretary-case, and a catch pivoted to said leaf, which may be turned back into engagement with any one of a series of holes in said secretary-case to hold it in any position of inclination, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a vertically-movable secretary-case, a spring-actuated rotary shaft, and cords for raising said case, and a knob on a projecting end of said shaft, whereby said secretary-case may be turned down or held down, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY ISKE.

lVitnesses:

ALBERT ISKE, P. DONNELLY.

I do not claim 

